The Pro Football Hall of Fame has launched a PSA campaign to educate people across the U.S. about the safety and importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, with a particular focus on communities of color. As part of the Centene family, Superior HealthPlan is engaging Texans to encourage them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when available to help prevent the spread of the virus. The 30-second PSA, which can be viewed here, features Hall of Famer Drew Pearson, who played his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.
To achieve “herd immunity,” officials have said roughly 80% of the U.S. population needs to be vaccinated. Multiple surveys have indicated many Americans are hesitant to receive the vaccine, especially within the Black community and other communities of color, which, along with access issues, has impacted immunization rates. Recent data show Blacks make up only 8% of those who had been vaccinated despite constituting 13% of the population and accounting for 15% of all COVID-19 deaths.
“As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re a team and need to work together to stop the virus from spreading,” said David Baker, President and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “We recognize there are a lot of questions out there about the vaccine, so we want to make sure we’re reaching as many people as possible. We thank Drew for encouraging everyone to get vaccinated for the sake of their loved ones.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is Centene’s Official Youth Wellness Partner. Through the “Strong Youth Strong Communities” program, Hall of Famers have discussed important issues with youth, including mental health, suicide, and bullying. During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual youth summits on these topics have been held in a number of states. For its work on these issues, the Hall of Fame was the recipient of the 2019 Booker T. Washington award from the National Minority Quality Forum.
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